Plastic drum with drain sump and method of making the same

Abstract

A one-piece plastic drum is formed with a top, bottom and sidewall. The top is profiled to form a sump around an access opening so that when the drum is turned upside down, all the liquids are dispensed from the drum.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A blow molded one-piece plastic drum capable of having all liquids contained therein to be removed out therefrom when then drum is turned upside down comprising: a top, a bottom and a tubular integral sidewall cooperating to form a unitary drum body; and   a mouth extending downwardly from the top when the drum is in an upside down position and defining a first access opening formed in said top; said top having an inner surface pitched downwardly towards said first access opening when the drum is in an upside down position, a ring profiled about said first access opening and interposed between the top and mouth, at least one channel formed in the top and extending below the top inner surface and extending from the sidewall into the ring when the drum is in an upside down position to form a first tiered sump, at least one arcuate zone between the ring and mouth and beneath the ring when the drum is in an upside down position to form a second tiered sump, the sumps being arranged and constructed to collect liquid from said drum and dispense said liquid from said drum through said first access opening when said drum is turned upside down to remove all the liquid from the drum, whereby as the drum empties, drops of the liquid run down the inside of the sidewall and top and because of the pitched inner surface of the top, they are collected into the channel and arcuate zone and flow out of the access opening and in this manner, and because the drum has no crevices or holes in which the fluid can remain as the drum is in its upside down position, all the liquid can be safely and economically removed from the drum and the drum can then be returned for reuse or melted down and recycled.   
     
     
       2. The drum of claim 1 wherein said first tiered sump includes a pair of said channel separated by a ramp and the second tiered sump include a pair of said arcuate zones disposed below said channel to receive liquid collected in said channel and direct the liquid to the access opening. 
     
     
       3. The drum of claim 1 further comprising a second access opening having said first tiered and second tiered sumps. 
     
     
       4. The drum of claim 3 wherein said access openings are disposed at a preselected distance from the longitudinal axis of said drum. 
     
     
       5. The drum of claim 4 wherein the inner surface of the top is pitched downwardly toward both of the access opening when the drum is in an upside down position. 
     
     
       6. The drum of claim 5 wherein a spine is formed in the top between the access openings for reinforcing. 
     
     
       7. The drum of claim 1, wherein the mouth is provided with internal threads and an externally threaded closure cap closes the access opening. 
     
     
       8. The drum of claim 1, wherein a chime extends upwardly from and circumferentially around the top beyond the mouth for permitting the handling of the drum by mechanical means.